Hard-hit Thatta to pilot major malaria elimination initiative

 


 

Thatta declared Pakistan’s most malaria-affected district; new AKU-led initiative aims to create a model for nationwide elimination.

IV Report

KARACHI: On World Malaria Day, April 25, stakeholders launched a major initiative aimed at eliminating mosquito-borne infectious diseases in Thatta, which they identified as the most malaria-burdened district in Sindh, Pakistan.

The launch ceremony, held at the Aga Khan University (AKU), was attended by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho—who also serves as the Patron-in-Chief of the project—as the chief guest. Attendees were informed that Thatta had reported 10,000 malaria cases in 2023, the highest count in the country, according to a press release issued by AKU.

"The government of Sindh is proud to support this incredible initiative, which has the potential to uplift suffering communities across Sindh," said Minister Dr Pechuho.

The initiative, known as the Thatta Malaria Elimination Plan (TMEP), envisions transforming Thatta into a malaria-free zone and establishing a sustainable, replicable model for elimination that could be expanded across Sindh, the rest of Pakistan, and other malaria-endemic regions globally. 

Speakers at the event highlighted the global burden of malaria, with 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths reported worldwide. In the South-East Asia region, Pakistan remains a significant contributor to the ongoing transmission, with 95% of the country’s population at risk. The disease, they emphasized, not only strains healthcare systems but also hinders national socio-economic development.

“Malaria is not just a health issue—it’s a multidimensional challenge driven by socioeconomic vulnerabilities, post-flood consequences, limited healthcare access, and climatic changes that allow the disease to thrive,” said Prof M Asim Beg, Principal Investigator and head of TMEP. “Thatta is an ideal region to pilot diverse intervention strategies.”

Led by AKU, the TMEP has been developed in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Sindh, and the Directorate of Malaria Control. The initiative is also supported by several international partners, contributing financial resources, technological expertise, and global insights.

The programme will also incorporate findings from the international EFFORT clinical trial, which tested novel malaria treatment options. Dr Salim Virani, Vice Provost Research at AKU, noted the trial's unique approach: “What made this trial unique was our commitment to testing treatment options as close to real-world conditions as possible. Conducted in Karachi and Thatta — two malaria hotspots — the trial found that two new treatments dramatically reduced recurrence rates. One treatment in particular, a single-dose of Tafenoquine, shows great promise for malaria control in Pakistan.”

The launch also saw the introduction of the Malaria Elimination Consortium, founded by AKU in 2023 to support Pakistan’s national malaria elimination strategy. According to the university, the Consortium laid the foundation for TMEP as a locally grounded, data-driven response to malaria elimination.

AKU noted that the TMEP initiative aligns closely with this year’s World Malaria Day theme: “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.”

Photos courtesy: AKU

Chart: Sindh Health Department  

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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